#stylethoughts

Since I’ve had my daughters, I have struggled with my weight. Going to the gym and counting calories just wasn’t in my schedule, and working as much as I do leaves little time. My life had been consumed with playdates, doctor’svisits, sports practices, and homework. I honestly forgot about me. I had left Chantera somewherein between the carpool lane and the grocery store. It wasn’t until I went to my doctor for a routinecheckup that I heard these words carefully fall from my doctor’s mouth: “Would you like to set up an appointment with a weight loss counselor?” At first I was so offended, I felt like the rest of the visit was a slow-motion montage of her giving me pamphlets and telling me it's normal. The word obesewas said over and over, and I abruptly got up, thanked her, and made some mommy excuse to get the heck out of there! Here I was thinking I was thick and cute, turns out my lovely lady lumps I was so proud of were affecting my health. I’m a single mom of three girls, and I definitely don’t have time for that. I left my doctor's office feeling like, "oh she’s got me all wrong!" The scale...yeah that damn scale must have been on one because I look AMAZING! How’s that for being overly confident and semi delusional lol! I was so used to hearing others body shame themselves that I just refused to allow myself to go there. But ironically enough, it wasn’t until I couldn’t fit into my favorite go-to LBD that I just lost it and started to cry! I know as women, we have all had that moment of crying clarity. And it was in that moment that I just decided, "Chantera, it's time to care about you." I am no good to my children unhealthy, and my mantrabecame weight loss = your wardrobe! I can’t go to my clients' homes and not practice what I’ve been stylishly preaching. How am I doing it? Well there isn’t any secret to my now 20+ pound weight loss. I joined a gym that has a child care center. So that cut out the child excuse! But first I hooked up with a trainer to help me put together a routine and navigate the gym and its many machines, and I just stuck to it. I kept telling myself this is for me and my children, because a healthy mom is a happy mom. And my family deserves that!